Too often, society glorifies careers that amass great fortunes. While financial security is a fundamental need, and the lack of it can be a nightmare, there’s a critical difference in how that wealth is created.

As an example, consider this powerful statement from an article (reference below): “The total value of all the economic activity in the world is estimated at $105 trillion. That’s the mangoes. The value of the financial derivatives which arise from this activity – that’s the subsequent trading – is $667 trillion. That makes it the biggest business in the world. And in terms of the things it produces, that business is useless. It does nothing and adds no value. It is just one speculator betting against another and for every winner, on every single transaction, there is an exactly equivalent loser.”

The paradox of modern society is that a significant portion of billionaires—around 15%—emerge from finance, an industry whose societal value added is essentially zero. While many within the finance sector may rationalize their contributions, the truth is, at a societal level, their impact doesn’t create tangible value.

When choosing your career, ask yourself: How do I contribute to the actual value of the world? This question is central to the model we use at WoPa. And yes financial success is one component, but only one.

In short, aim to be like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, or Steve Jobs, who built their fortunes through innovation and tangible contributions (technology represents 12% of the world’s richest), rather than through speculative trading.

So thanks to a LLM we end with a poem:

"Be like Bezos, reaching new heights,

Musk's innovations soaring through nights,

Jobs built dreams that changed the scene,

Zuckerberg's network in every screen.

Gates opened doors to tech we trust,

Brin and Page made search a must,

Their paths show success you can feel,

Be like them – make your career real!"

Sources:

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n17/john-lanchester/for-every-winner-a-loser/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracechung/2024/04/13/how-most-billionaires-made-their-money